LEARNING TO OVERCOME - from A Forgiving Heart

Why haven't we overcome as yet?  We have failed to overcome because we refuse to release our offenders and ourselves from our negative experiences.  Overcoming our pain and shame is as challenging as it is for you and I to have a forgiving heart. We must realize that we don't need to have it all together.  It is alright for us to make mistakes.  It is alright for us to experience hurt every now and then, it is nothing more than a manifestation of the level of emotions connected.  It is alright to experience some shame, this manifests where we've placed our securities.  I want you to know that there is a much better thing for us to do.  The best thing that you and I can do is tear down those idols of ourselves which we've erected and become humble.  He is Almighty God, yet He chose to live His life as the Son of man.  He existed in glory, yet our Lord decided to dwell in a place of poverty and sin.  He is Lord of all lords and  yet Jesus lived His life as a man of instructions.  Jesus made Himself of no reputation and He learnt obedience by the things He suffered. Hebrews 5:8 - "Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered" (NKJV).  This is what you and I must do. We must learn obedience by the things we suffer.  This obedience includes the act of forgiveness. 

We must discontinue our selfish acts of holding our offenders hostage and thereafter become obedient to that which is required of us by our heavenly Father.  God's desire is for you and I to forgive.  We need to practice forgiveness and it is very important that we possess forgiving hearts.  The pain and the shame will be as effective as we allow it to be. Can we honestly forgive people and ourselves?  We must decide how long we want to carry our emotional baggage because the key to overcoming our pain and shame is having a forgiving heart.  We must free ourselves and also our offenders.  This is true victory and the proper way of moving forward. 

Excerpt from A Forgiving Heart. All Rights Reserved.  Copyright by Pro Type. Book available on Amazon ISBN 9781494808754. Author: Tanya E. Munroe. 

REVELATION by Tanya E. Munroe

It was all smiles, hey we've finally met
I told you basic stuff about myself
You did the same
Telephone contacts and addresses exchanged
And off we went to become acquaintances

Wow! This is great, I think I've found a friend
Hours chatting on the phone and online
Lunch dates, social outings to events
We were learning each other
At least this what we both thought

As time progressed we referred to each
other as FRIEND
But were we really friends?
There was so much we didn't like
about each other
Rather than getting closer we erected walls
Time began to reveal something beyond our words
It revealed who we really are

The smiles became fake
The conversations were meaningless
The motives were impure
The time spent together was not fellowship
but rather tolerance
The impurities of the heart were manifested
through actions
There was a revelation

We were not friends
We weren't enemies either
We were just two people who crossed each
other's path for a season and also for a reason
That reason and purpose was fulfilled
There is no need to continue beyond this point
Because such was only a burden on us both
The assignment was completed

Did I change?
I hope I did because my passion is to evolve
into becoming a better person  day by day
Did you change?
Maybe not, I am not sure
I do know that I finally learnt the
the real YOU
It was a revelation

Now what must I do?
I take this revelation of who you are
and guard my heart
I take this revelation of how you've
been treating me and I guard my life
I take this revelation of your motives
and I guard my future
I take this revelation of what you represent
and I guard my relationship with God
You were in my life only for a purpose
The apocalypse has taken place
Now I know why we have met

(This poem is copyright  by Pro Type and written by Tanya E. Munroe)

We must learn that not everyone who come into our lives are for a long period of time.  Some people only come to help us get out of the rut, others come to teach us something that we need to know for that particular time. We must cease from being so clingy and learn the purpose of the individual and thereafter release them.  Not everyone we meet is a potential friend, a potential spouse, business partner, prayer partner etc.  Sometimes we deposit into the lives of others and other times people are depositing into ours and this was the reason for meeting...nothing more.  We must learn how to fulfill the purpose and move on.  

A kind act does not mean friendship.  A welcoming smile does not mean friendship. Receiving financial assistance or a listening ear does not mean friendship.  God sends people to help us in our time of need, this does not mean that they are in our lives on a long term basis.  The same applies to you and I, we are likewise sent to assist and thereafter must learn to move on.  We become too attached to people and fail to move on.  

The above captioned poem was an inspiration after meditating on the volume of people who came into my life and the effect they had.  Not everyone was intended to be my friend, that was a description I gave them.  It was not God's intention for them to be in my life for a long time, that was my desire. What God wants is the goal attained, the assignment completed and the purpose fulfilled for His glory.  This is the revelation I received by the Spirit of God and I must say that it is life changing toward maturity and wisdom. 

ALMOST

Have your realized somethings about your life and some people who are in your life that you can no longer accommodate? Nothing negative about them or whatever it was that you were doing or entertaining - I am referring to a shift in season.  Many of us don't realize when our shift is on. Seriously, we miss it!  We were almost there and guess what happened to prevent us from experiencing the shift in our lives - FAMILIARITY. 

The familiar face, the familiar feeling or anything familiar in your life that was attached to your soul begins to draw you backwards.   I need you to realize the importance of completing your transition process toward the next level in your life or your next assignment.  Read what the Apostle Paul said, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" - Philippians 3:13, 14. 

There comes a time in each person's life when there is a shift and this shift is not automatic. It is an opportunity for the individual to thrust himself/herself toward a higher level.  There are three key phrases in Paul's statement.  For you and I to be able to embrace the shift in our lives we must:

1- Realize that we are yet to apprehend.  We are not there, God is not finished with us yet and regardless of the ground covered, tests completed, trials overcame, we are still in the hands of the Potter.  One more point - none of us knows it all. We are all still in the classroom learning. 

2.  We must  forget and release ourselves.  Some attitudes and mindsets MUST change. Everything must shift. There are some trees that can tell us that a shift in season has occurred because it begins to shed its leaves. When it is autumn season trees begin to shed and at the peak of this season some trees are completely without leaves.  We must have this same kind of mindset and attitude towards our shift in life. For some of us we are going into our next season friendless, without anything familiar.  You must be willing to release yourself and forget your former life, not because it was something negative but more because it is something needed. 

3.  You must move forward and upward.  It is not you and your friend's shift. It may not be you and your spouse's shift. It is your shift in life.  You - solo, alone, by yourself....got it!  Paul said that he had to reach forward to those things which are ahead.  He had to move himself away from familiarity and embrace with effort and strength those things which were ahead of him.  This can only be accomplished when you begin to drop leaves like the tree.  The only way you are going to free yourself from the mediocre and mundane things in life is for you to release yourself from them and press forward.   No one can do this for you - you must embrace your shift. 

So many people were almost there...the next level was right before them but they failed to press toward it. They permitted those things which were behind to hinder their progress.  For something to be behind you means that you were already in the process of leaving.  Remember Lot's wife my dear reader.  She was on her way from Sodom and Gomorrah but she never made it to her destiny.  Some friends are seasonal, jobs are seasonal, places where we reside are also seasonal. Our lives are full of seasons - the purpose of seasons is for you and I to be able to discern the time in which we live; personally.  I am not referring to summer, winter, autumn and spring. I am referring to when a shift is occurring and we need to make the proper decisions to embrace what is ahead of us. 

It is time for you to stop ALMOST being able to obtain, ALMOST being able to complete,ALMOST being able to leave, ALMOST be able to execute, ALMOST being able and release yourself from familiarity and thrust yourself toward your destiny.  Is your shift on? Remember Lot's wife!

IT IS ROUGH, BUT IT IS GOOD

A few weeks ago while walking in my back yard, I noticed this long scaly skin at the side of my concrete steps.  It was the old skin of a snake.  At first I had an uncomfortable feeling of a snake being in my yard especially after staring at the length of its old skin.  Shortly thereafter the Holy Spirit comforted me.

It was an unusual comfort because no one in their right mind with children who play in their backyards would find any comfort in discovering the old skin of a snake at their steps.  I picked it up with a stick and spread it out so I can learn of its full length.  It was a good size, big enough to cause fear for any person who is afraid of snakes.  

After discovering its size I sat on my steps and the Holy Spirit began to comfort and minster unto me. He told me that the snake needed something rough to enable it to shed its old skin. I also learnt that it was of grave importance for the old skin to be shed because the snake was carrying around dead weight.  Wow! What an eye opener.  While I thought God had forgotten all about me because  my deliverance appeared to be delayed, He was there all the time.

My diversity of trials were rough, but they were also for my good.  I could not shed the old me without the presence of some rough times in my life.  Those difficult and challenging days were needed so the new me can come forth.  There were days when I thought I could not endure another trial, or another set back.  There were also  days when I was extremely frustrated with God, and very angry as well.  After understanding why the snake was in my yard, I began to appreciate those rough days in my life.  They have been very rough but they have also been extremely beneficial for me.   Next time you experience some rough days just remember that they are only there to enable you to shed the old man and bring you into your newness of life in Christ Jesus.  Rough days are like the snake that visited my back yard, they are only there to ensure that the newness comes forth and the dead, useless part of our lives are left behind.  I didn't see the snake but I can attest to it having experienced a change for the better.  Welcome your rough days and welcome your change.  It is rough, but it is good!

TRUST

I am sure that you find it so amazing how people will expect you to trust them as if they have  never offended you, after so doing.  They might truly be sorry and  a reasonable explanation might have been given for their betrayal, but so often the effects of broken trust is not acknowledged.  If the words, "I'm sorry" could immediately thereafter heal brokenness and emotional hurt, what a peaceful and more loving world we would have.  Unfortunately the words, "I'm sorry" do not so quickly heal the pain and mend broken relationships.  It takes time; healing is a process not a miracle.

When you and I  lived so many years practicing sin, loving the pleasures of this world, and dishonoring our heavenly Father, we have broken His trust in us to live pleasing lives unto Him.  After apologizing unto God through repentance, we don't so quickly break those sinful habits.  We find ourselves having to learn how to TRUST God because we have trusted everyone and everything else but Him. 

How many times have we said, "I'm sorry" to God after fornicating and thereafter did it several times more? How many times have we felt sorry and repented about our deceitfulness and continued to be deceptive unto our fellowman?  How many times have we knowingly sinned by choice, felt guilty thereafter, repented and then did it again and again?  After all of this we are entrusted with the breath of life to once again be afforded the opportunity to prove to God that we are worthy of His blessings, His love, His grace, and most importantly the sacrifice of His only begotten Son.  

There is only ONE way for you and I to prove that we are trustworthy unto God.   We must love the Lord our God with all of our heart, our mind, our soul and our strength and we must also love our neighbour as ourselves.  Can God trust you with the gift of life that you are embracing today? Are you really sorry about your sins? The repentance prayer as your apology unto God means nothing if you refuse to change.  The words, "I'm sorry" likewise means nothing if you refuse to amend your ways.  Trust is not restored by the words, "I'm sorry", it is restored by a positive, sincere change in conduct. 

THE OBSERVANCE

Often times I sit in my bed looking through my window watching the lives of the people in my new neighborhood.  I also watch the birds as they feast on the debris of food scattered along the street and sidewalk.  I hear the noise from the passing of a variety of vehicles as people journey towards work, school and various other places.

I have  come to realize that in the same manner that I am watching the people and the birds in my neighborhood, Satan is also watching, seeking whom he may devour. Satan and his imps are likewise watching to see whose faith today they can disrupt and alter with seeds of doubt.  He is watching attentively for those who are distracted with the cares of this life to enable him to steal whatever blessings God has sent their way.

I want you to learn that not only is Satan watching but Elohim is also watching. He is observing our actions in each day that we live. He is observing how we treat our fellowman.  God is watching us, observing how we react when under pressure or being tempted by the enemy of our souls.  He is watching to see, if once again we will deny His lordship to please others or deny Him  glory  for us to be accepted by someone whose relationship we have placed a greater value upon.

As I look through my window and observe the people in my neighborhood and birds feasting on the debris of food, I realize that we are likewise being watched.  Satan is watching us, he is observing how we likewise feast on his lies, embrace his temptations and deny our God, Elohim.  Our heavenly Father is watching, He is observing how we start each day, whether with prayer and praise or with complaints and ungratefulness. Elohim is watching, He is observing how we feast on His acts of kindness and love towards us and His holy word.  Know today that there three groups  observing your life daily.  One - God and His heavenly host, two - Satan and the kingdom of darkness and three - the people around you on a daily basis.  What are you displaying?

MY FUTURE PLANS

From a very young age parents will ask their children what they want to be when they grow up.  "Do you want to be a mechanic like your daddy?" or "Do you want to run the family business?" such questions will be asked.  Truly as parents many of us would love for our children to continue in our careers, especially if such was gainful employment and one that was acknowledged as an accomplishment.

As Christians, how many of us would ask our children, "Would you like to be like Jesus when you grow up?" Sadly this is the farthest thought from our minds when it comes to the future of our children's lives. Who is Jesus and why should becoming like Him be viewed as a success?  Interesting question and probably one that should be addressed to yourself as a parent.  Did you ever desire to be like Jesus?  Probably this is not at the top of your list of goals to be achieved.

The first endeavor that we as Christians should instill in our children to accomplish is to be like Jesus. Upon such goal becoming a part of our future plans, it will be included in our proposal for our children's future plans.  However, I want you to note that it must first begin with us, then extended to our children.  We don't need another Michael Jordan, another Whitney Houston, another Tiger Woods, or any other worldly icon.  What we need to instill in our children is a desire to be like Jesus and to have such desire at the top of their list of future plans. What are you instilling  in your child's mind and who are you training your child to imitate?